Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to amendments
This Office Action is in response to the amended file, filed on 09/11/2025. Claims 1-17are amended. Claims 1-20 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-4, 7-8, 10-17 are rejected under35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over Ferrin et al. (U.S. Pub. NO. 2010/0049374), in view Murty et al. (U.S. Pub. NO. 2024/0086862).
With regard to claim 1, Ferrin discloses A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: (The reference discloses the leader to provide any propulsive or towing force to the follower vehicle, any of a wide range of leaders and follower vehicles may be used without regard to type or size differential between leader) (Ferrin, [032])
a first leader vehicle; (The reference discloses a follower vehicle to follow a leader may comprise a tether system mounted to the follower vehicle, the tether system including a tether having an end adopted to be attached to the leader) (Ferrin, [007])
and a first follower vehicle, (The reference discloses a follower vehicle to follow a leader may comprise a tether system mounted to the follower vehicle, the tether system including a tether having an end adopted to be attached to the leader) (Ferrin, [007])
wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, (The reference discloses a follower vehicle to follow a leader may comprise a tether system mounted to the follower vehicle, the tether system including a tether having an end adopted to be attached to the leader, a leader may comprise a tether mounted to the follower vehicle, the tether having an end adopted to be attached to the leader) (Ferrin, [007-008])
wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, (The reference discloses operated in either the forward direction or the reverse direction. That is, in addition to “leading” the follower vehicle, the leader may be used to back the follower vehicle in the reverse direction. However, it is generally desired, but not required, that follower vehicle comprise a vehicle that could be provided with systems to allow it to be autonomously operated (i.e., without driver input or supervision). Alternatively, however, the follower vehicle need not be fully autonomous and may require some degree of driver input.) (Ferrin, [030], [035])
However, Ferrin does not teach and wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower, a fertilizer, an agricultural tractor, a snow removal machine, a leaf collection machine, or a construction machine.
Murty teaches and wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower, a fertilizer, an agricultural tractor, a snow removal machine, a leaf collection machine, or a construction machine; (The reference discloses this allows lots of industries in property maintenance (included but not limited to lawn care, tree care, neighborhood security, parcel delivery, home cleaning etc).) (Murty, [016])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the and wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower, a fertilizer, an agricultural tractor, a snow removal machine, a leaf collection machine, or a construction machine of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to expand the functional application and commercial utility of the leader-follower system disclosed by Ferrin to the specific, practical field of property maintenance and heavy equipment operation. The core concept in Ferrin is a method for one vehicle to tow or guide another (often autonomously or semi-autonomously) via a tether system, which is a highly relevant mechanism for various industrial and agricultural tasks. By applying this system to specialized machinery listed in Murty (e.g., a lawnmower, agricultural tractor, or snow removal machine), the resulting combination provides a clear economic and efficiency benefit. For instance, a single onboard operator in a leader vehicle could effectively control the path and operation of multiple follower units performing parallel tasks (e.g., cutting several swaths of a field simultaneously), significantly increasing productivity and reducing labor costs in commercial applications. This adaptation is a natural progression of the base invention into an established commercial market, driven by the desire to automate and optimize standard industry practices as suggested by Murty at [016].
With regard to claim 2, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Murty discloses wherein said first leader vehicle is a first lawnmower and said first follower vehicle is a second lawnmower. (The reference discloses this allows lots of industries in property maintenance (included but not limited to lawn care, tree care, neighborhood security, parcel delivery, home cleaning etc).) (Murty, [016])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said first leader vehicle is a first lawnmower and said first follower vehicle is a second lawnmower of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to provide a specific, practical, and highly efficient solution for commercial lawn care operations. By using two lawnmowers of potentially similar size and capability as both the leader and follower vehicles, the system leverages standardized equipment, simplifying maintenance and interchangeability within a commercial fleet. The motivation is driven by the desire to streamline large-area mowing tasks: a single operator on the first (leader) lawnmower can simultaneously control the path and operation of the second (follower) lawnmower, effectively doubling the operational coverage rate with the same amount of labor. This specific configuration maximizes operational efficiency, reduces fuel costs per unit area treated, and provides a clear incentive for adoption within the property maintenance industry as described by Murty. The combination represents a straightforward application of the general leader-follower concept to a highly specific and commercially valuable use case as suggested by Murty at [016].
With regard to claim 3, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Ferrin discloses wherein said first leader vehicle includes a first sensor. (The reference discloses the tether system including a tether having an end adopted to be attached to the leader, a length sensor operatively associated with the tether, and an angle sensor operatively associated with the tether.) (Ferrin, [007])
With regard to claim 4, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Ferrin discloses wherein said flock of vehicles further comprises a second follower vehicle; (The reference discloses Still yet another advantage of the control system of the present invention is that it is not limited to use with convoys comprising only one leader and one follower vehicle. For example, in another embodiment additional follower vehicles (with corresponding control systems) could be attached to follower vehicle in a sequential manner) (Ferrin, [033])
a third follower vehicle; (The reference discloses Still yet another advantage of the control system of the present invention is that it is not limited to use with convoys comprising only one leader and one follower vehicle. For example, in another embodiment additional follower vehicles (with corresponding control systems) could be attached to follower vehicle in a sequential manner) (Ferrin, [033])
and a fourth follower vehicle. (The reference discloses Still yet another advantage of the control system of the present invention is that it is not limited to use with convoys comprising only convoy one leader and one follower vehicle. For example, in another embodiment additional follower vehicles (with corresponding control systems) could be attached to follower vehicle in a sequential manner) (Ferrin, [033])
With regard to claim 7, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Ferrin discloses wherein said first leader vehicle is connected to said first follower vehicle via a retractable cable, (The reference discloses retracting the tether) (Ferrin, [081])
wherein a length said retractable cable is extended and an angle said retractable cable is pointing are used by said system to determine a position of said first leader vehicle relative to said first follower vehicle. (The reference discloses a length sensor operatively associated with the tether, and an angle sensor operatively associated with the tether. A path tracking system operatively associated with the tether system determines a path traveled by the leader. Angle sensing means operatively associated with the tether senses an angle between the tether and the follower vehicle. A path tracking system operatively associated with the length sensing means and the angle sensing means determines a path traveled by the leader.) (Ferrin, [007-009], [025], FIG. 1, 4)
With regard to claim 8, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 3. Additionally, Ferrin discloses wherein said first sensor is used to detect a unique feature on said first follower vehicle. (The reference discloses sensors on the tether that is used to detect the location of the leader vehicle.) (Ferrin, [007], [026], [063])
With regard to claim 10, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Murty discloses a drone coupled to said system, wherein said drone is configured to detect an obstacle, wherein said drone has a camera. (The reference discloses includes a tele-operated robot and a control center. In some implementations, the tele-operated robotic system may additionally include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, interchangeably referred to herein as a drone). the communication module may additionally or alternately receive aerial image information from the UAV. the communication module enables the control center to communicate with the tele-operated robot or the UAV. In some embodiments, the communication module can transmit commands and controls from the control center to the tele-operated robot, and receive data from the tele-operated robot and/or other components of the system such as the UAV. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for operating a tele-operated robot for maintenance of a property includes obtaining, during an operation of the tele-operated robot for maintenance of the property, data relating to an obstacle in an operating path of the tele-operated robot using a sensor of the tele-operated robot. Upon detection of the obstacle, it is determined, at a control center, whether a path avoiding the obstacle can be estimated based on the data relating to the obstacle. The control center includes a processor and is communicatively coupled to the tele-operated robot. Upon a determination that a path avoiding the obstacle cannot be estimated, a flight of an UAV is initiated at by the control center. The flight path of the UAV is configured to obtain an aerial image of an area surrounding the obstacle for enabling estimation of the path avoiding the obstacle while minimizing deviation from the operating path of the tele-operated robot.) (Murty, [006], [017], [029], [039])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the a drone coupled to said system, wherein said drone is configured to detect an obstacle, wherein said drone has a camera of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to substantially improve the situational awareness, obstacle detection capabilities, and overall autonomy of the leader-follower system disclosed by Ferrin. While Ferrin's tethered system manages basic following behavior, it lacks sophisticated, forward-looking obstacle avoidance, particularly for complex or unforeseen obstacles that might not be detected by the ground-based leader or follower vehicle's immediate sensors. By integrating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) with a camera, the system gains an elevated, aerial perspective. This allows for proactive mapping of the environment ahead of the ground vehicles, detection of obstacles from above, and the ability to estimate optimal avoidance paths in real-time, as detailed in Murty. The motivation stems from a desire to create a more robust, efficient, and safer autonomous system that can handle dynamic environments with minimal human intervention. The drone acts as an intelligent, mobile scouting sensor platform, providing crucial data that enhances the ground vehicles' operational continuity and safety, which is a common and obvious design goal when developing advanced autonomous systems as suggested by Murty at [006], [017], [029], [039].
With regard to claim 11, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Murty discloses wherein said first leader vehicle is a first snow removal machine and said first follower vehicle is a second snow removal machine. (The reference discloses this allows lots of industries in property maintenance (included but not limited to lawn care, tree care, neighborhood security, parcel delivery, home cleaning etc).) (Murty, [016])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said first leader vehicle is a first lawnmower and said first follower vehicle is a second lawnmower of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to solve the significant logistical and efficiency challenges associated with snow removal operations, particularly for large areas like parking lots, runways, or long driveways. By adapting the general leader-follower vehicle system of Ferrin to two specialized snow removal machines (as informed by the industry contexts mentioned in Murty), an operator can effectively double the width of the clearing path. This configuration significantly accelerates the snow removal process, a critical factor during heavy snowfall events where speed and efficiency directly translate to safety and operational continuity. The motivation is strongly economic and practical: leveraging existing heavy machinery in a coordinated, single-operator configuration maximizes labor efficiency, reduces operational time, and optimizes the use of specialized assets during peak demand periods. This application of the general invention to a specific industry need is a natural and obvious design choice for one seeking to improve productivity in property maintenance as suggested by Murty at [016].
With regard to claim 12, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Murty discloses wherein said first follower vehicle has a simultaneous localization and mapping component. (The reference discloses a tele-operated robot for maintenance of a property includes obtaining an aerial image of the property using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The aerial image is transmitted to a control center communicatively coupled to the UAV and the tele-operated robot. The control center includes a processor. An area of interest within the property where property maintenance is to be performed based on the aerial image is determined at the control center. Based on the aerial image, the area of interest is classified at the control center as a first area that is autonomously navigable by the tele-operated robot and a second area that is not autonomously navigable by the tele-operated robot. A schedule of operation of the tele-operated robot for performing the property maintenance in the area of interest is determined at the control center based on a relative size of the first area and the second area. The schedule is configured to minimize labor hours and total time spent in performing the property maintenance. The system, devices and methods disclosed herein enable autonomous operation of robots around known and unknown obstacles on a property. A robot includes an optical marker disposed to be visible in a top-view image of the robot, a receiver configured to receive a top-down image of an area of interest surrounding the robot within a property, and a processor configured to distinguish the robot from structural features on the property based on an image of the optical marker. A position and an orientation of the robot and the structural features relative to the property is determined based on the top-down image. Among the structural features, a subset of features classified as obstacles inhibiting an operation of the robot as the robot moves within the area of interest is determined. An operating path for the robot within the area of interest so as to avoid the obstacles is then determined. the process for inspection of the obstacle includes causing a UAV to fly over the property in a flight path that is configured to determine the classification of the obstacle. In some embodiments, the UAV flight path is configured to obtain an aerial image comprising a three-dimensional (3D) geometrically corrected composite map of the property. The 3D geometrically corrected composite map is then transmitted to the control center or the tele-operated robot to enable estimation of an alternate operating path that preserves the non-maintained area.) (Murty, [005], [058])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said first follower vehicle has a simultaneous localization and mapping component of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to substantially increase the operational autonomy, precision, and environmental awareness of the follower vehicle in the leader-follower system. The basic tethered system in Ferrin primarily relies on the physical coupling and the leader's operation for guidance. By integrating a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) component into the follower vehicle, as described in Murty, the follower gains the ability to independently understand and map its own local environment in real-time. This enhancement allows the follower vehicle to navigate its surroundings with greater intelligence, detect and respond to immediate obstacles that the leader might miss, and maintain a more accurate relative position to the leader and the terrain. The motivation is driven by the desire to improve system robustness and efficiency; SLAM technology enables the follower to operate more reliably, potentially even autonomously maneuvering around temporary obstacles while maintaining the overall mission objective set by the leader, thus enhancing the overall effectiveness and safety of the combined flock system as suggested by Murty at [005], [058].
With regard to claim 13, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Murty discloses wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower retrofitted with an autonomous guidance system. (The reference discloses a robot capable of being operated or supervised locally or remotely by a human user as well as being capable of functioning autonomously. It will be understood that functioning autonomously does not necessarily mean functioning fully autonomously without any human supervision or support. The sensor module may include one or more sensors that enable autonomous operation of the tele-operated robot or enable the local or remote operator or supervisor of the tele-operated robot to sense an environment surrounding the tele-operated robot. Examples of various sensors that may be included in a tele-operated robot for property maintenance include, but are not limited to, camera, stereo camera LIDAR, RADAR, ultrasound sensors, GPS positioning system, IR sensors, and gyroscope(s).) (Murty, [012], [025])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower retrofitted with an autonomous guidance system of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to combine the autonomous capabilities described by Murty with the coupled-vehicle system of Ferrin-Murty because it represents a logical and straightforward application of known robotic technology for property maintenance. The motivation would stem from the desire to leverage the efficiency of a leader-follower configuration (Ferrin-Murty) while performing practical tasks, such as autonomous lawn care, using existing, easily modifiable equipment (Murty's retrofitted robot). The cited passages from Murty explicitly detail how general-purpose property maintenance robots can be equipped with various sensors for autonomous guidance. A skilled artisan would recognize that coupling an already common piece of equipment, like a lawnmower, into a multi-vehicle system enhances productivity and reduces manual labor. The modification simply adapts a known autonomous system component to fit into another known mechanical system, achieving a predictable result: an efficient, coupled, semi-autonomous lawn-maintenance flock of vehicles. This combination addresses the common industry goal of increasing automation and efficiency in property maintenance tasks as suggested by Murty at [012], [025].
With regard to claim 14, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Ferrin discloses wherein said first leader vehicle is semi-autonomous (The reference discloses operated in either the forward direction or the reverse direction. That is, in addition to “leading” the follower vehicle, the leader may be used to back the follower vehicle in the reverse direction. However, it is generally desired, but not required, that follower vehicle comprise a vehicle that could be provided with systems to allow it to be autonomously operated (i.e., without driver input or supervision). Alternatively, however, the follower vehicle need not be fully autonomous and may require some degree of driver input.) (Ferrin, [030], [035])
With regard to claim 15, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 10. Additionally, Murty discloses wherein said drone hovers in front of or above said flock of vehicles (The reference discloses the process for inspection of the obstacle includes causing a UAV to fly over the property in a flight path that is configured to determine the classification of the obstacle. In some embodiments, the UAV flight path is configured to obtain an aerial image comprising a three-dimensional (3D) geometrically corrected composite map of the property. This requires the UAV to be above the property and thus above the robots.) (Murty, [058])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said drone hovers in front of or above said flock of vehicles of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to incorporate the hover function disclosed by Murty into the coupled-vehicle system of Ferrin-Murty because it provides a more robust and efficient method for inspecting obstacles or the surrounding environment. Using a hovering drone, as described in Murty's disclosure of obtaining aerial images and 3D maps [058], directly addresses the need for comprehensive environmental awareness and data collection in autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle systems like the one proposed by Ferrin-Murty. This modification would enable the flock of vehicles to perform detailed, stationary inspections without interrupting the movement of the ground vehicles, thereby enhancing safety, improving operational efficiency, and providing better situational awareness for the onboard operator [058]. This combination is a predictable application of known techniques to achieve a desirable functional improvement as suggested by Murty at [058].
With regard to claim 17, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 2. Additionally, Murty discloses wherein a cutting height of said first leader vehicle and a cutting height of said first follower vehicle are controlled by said first leader vehicle (The reference discloses for example, a lawn mower may include a sensor for detecting a height of the grass to be cut as well as height of the grass that has been cut.) (Murty, [025])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein a cutting height of said first leader vehicle and a cutting height of said first follower vehicle are controlled by said first leader vehicle of Murty. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to centralize the cutting height control within the combined system for improved efficiency, consistency, and ease of operation. The primary motivation lies in the predictable benefit of integrating autonomous functionality into a mechanical system that is designed to work in tandem. Murty explicitly teaches the use of sensors on a lawnmower to detect and adjust grass height, demonstrating that variable cutting height control is a known feature in the art of robotic property maintenance [025]. A skilled artisan seeking to improve the efficiency and automation of the Ferrin-Murty coupled-vehicle system would logically combine these elements to ensure uniform results across the entire flock of vehicles. Centralized control from the leader vehicle eliminates the need for separate manual adjustments or potentially conflicting autonomous sensor inputs on the follower vehicle. This modification is a simple application of existing sensor and control technology to a multi-vehicle system to achieve a predictable and desired outcome: synchronized, consistent, and centrally managed property maintenance as suggested by Murty at [025].
Claims 5-6 are rejected under35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over Ferrin-Murty, as applied to independent claim 1 above, in view Cremona et al. (U.S. Pub. NO. 20180188725).
With regard to claim 5, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 4. Additionally, Cremona discloses wherein said flock of vehicles are configured to be operated in an inverted V-shape configuration. (The reference discloses V-shaped platoon arrangement.) (Cremona, [026])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said flock of vehicles are configured to be operated in an inverted V-shape configuration of Cremona. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to improve the logistical efficiency, safety, and operational awareness of the combined vehicle system. Cremona teaches that V-shaped platoon arrangements are a known configuration in the art, specifically used in the context of vehicle platooning or flocking for reasons such as enhanced aerodynamic efficiency, improved visibility of the leader vehicle for followers, or optimized field coverage in maintenance applications. A skilled artisan, when combining the concepts of Ferrin-Murty's coupled flock with Cremona's formation, would recognize the benefits of arranging vehicles in a specific, advantageous geometry. The motivation stems from the desire to optimize the movement and operation of multiple vehicles working in concert. Implementing a V-shape, whether standard or inverted, is a predictable engineering choice for managing spacing, ensuring the path of the follower vehicles remains clear of obstacles detected by the leader, and maximizing operational field efficiency without requiring inventive effort beyond the ordinary skill in the art. The modification simply applies a known organizational pattern to a known multi-vehicle system to achieve a predictable improvement in function as suggested by Cremona at [026].
With regard to claim 6, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 4. Additionally, Cremona discloses wherein said flock of vehicles are configured to be operated in a W-shape configuration. (The reference discloses wide platoon formations, and platoon arrangements other than the linear or single file formation across multiple lanes the concept of w shape can be reasonably interpreted as a logical extension of the disclosed wide/multi lane formations.) (Cremona, [026-030])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said flock of vehicles are configured to be operated in a W-shape configuration of Cremona. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to expand the operational efficiency and coverage area of the combined vehicle system. Cremona discloses wide platoon formations and arrangements that deviate from single-file lines, specifically to enhance multi-lane operation and coverage. A W-shape configuration is a logical interpretation and a predictable geometric extension of these disclosed wide/multi-lane formations, designed specifically for maximizing the width of the operational path, which is particularly relevant in applications such as ground maintenance or sweeping large areas as suggested by Cremona at [026-030].
Claims 9 are rejected under35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over Ferrin-Murty, as applied to independent claim 1 above, in view Rajaie et al. (U.S. Pub. NO. 2023/0409848).
With regard to claim 9, Ferrin-Murty discloses all of the limitations of claim 1. Additionally, Rajaie discloses wherein said flock is configured to detect an individual using a UHF RFID tag. (The reference discloses the use of multiple RFID sender and reader drone mechanisms can be used to complete readings of the same area and date and could be scheduled to show consistent results and lower the error rate. Readings could be scheduled per worker shift for monitoring insider threat security purposes.) (Rajaie, [019])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, disclosed by Ferrin to include the wherein said flock is configured to detect an individual using a UHF RFID tag of Rajaie. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to incorporate the personnel monitoring capabilities described by Rajaie into the coupled-vehicle system of Ferrin-Murty. The primary motivation would be to enhance safety, security, and operational efficiency by integrating a known method for tracking individuals in the vicinity of potentially hazardous moving equipment. Rajaie explicitly teaches the use of UHF RFID tags for monitoring personnel, specifically in an industrial or secured environment context ("monitoring insider threat security purposes"). A skilled artisan combining these references would recognize the immediate applicability of this technology to a multi-vehicle system where the safety of nearby operators or workers is a concern. The modification is a straightforward integration of known RFID detection technology into an existing vehicle control system to achieve a predictable result: preventing collisions, enhancing worker safety protocols, and improving general situational awareness for the onboard operator of the leader vehicle as suggested by Rajaie at [019].
Claims 18 are rejected under35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over Ferrin-Murty, as applied to independent claim 1 above, in view XIANG et al. (CN 104417383).
With regard to claim 18, XIANG discloses an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety wire configured to stretch around said autonomous vehicle. (The reference determining the running speed similar to human walking speed of 40 /20m/min. selected for lead-acid storage battery as power source, direct-current motor used as driving power, by controlling the direct current drive motor positive rotation and reverse rotation to realize trolley of forward and backward. In order to reduce the floor area of the vehicle, and improving the vehicle driving safety and flexibility, the wire control handle to operate the loader control. for reinforcing vehicle driving safety, the trolley body periphery and lower part is installed with a safe switch, the vehicle around and back bumper in contact with the trolley driving process and any other obstacles, the vehicle automatically stopping. to improve the degree of automation of the trolley, adopting a full hydraulic power steering and hydraulic power braking control. The loader of the invention has unique advantage for precision parts and large heavy and large-sized deformed parts of transportation.) (XIANG, [039])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified A system comprising: a flock of vehicles disclosed by Ferrin-Murty to include an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety wire configured to stretch around said autonomous vehicle of XIANG. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to enhance the physical safety redundancy and operational reliability of the individual vehicles within the "flock" system. The concept of a "flock of vehicles" often relies heavily on advanced, potentially complex, sensor-based collision avoidance and communication systems. Integrating the mechanical, robust safety wire/bumper system disclosed by XIANG provides a simple, direct hardware layer of collision detection and prevention that functions as a fail-safe, independent of the primary, potentially software-dependent, autonomous navigation systems. A designer would be motivated to combine these approaches to address potential limitations or failures in the software or sensor suite (e.g., sensor blind spots, communication delays), thereby ensuring that contact with an obstacle automatically triggers an immediate stop mechanism. This combination results in a more reliable and safer autonomous vehicle system suitable for operation in various environments where robust, immediate physical safety measures are desired alongside networked coordination as suggested by XIANG at [039].
Claims 19 is rejected under35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over XIANG et al. (CN 104417383), as applied to independent claim 18 above, in view Dolata et al. (U.S. Pub. NO. 2020/0369408).
With regard to claim 19, XIANG discloses all of the limitations of claim 18. Additionally, Dolata discloses wherein said safety wire conducts a current and is connected to a dead-man switch on said autonomous vehicle, (Discloses a base power station, powered tether and a detachable plug/power module at the tether end configured to couple/detach from the UAV, detachment functionally cuts power and can be triggered or occur as a safety measure.) (Dolata, [024], [045])
wherein said safety wire is held together via a magnet. (Discloses the tether may include magnetic ends.) (Dolata, [040])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety wire configured to stretch around said autonomous vehicle disclosed by XIANG to include the wherein said safety wire conducts a current and is connected to a dead-man switch on said autonomous vehicle, wherein said safety wire is held together via a magnet of Dolata. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to implement a reliable and immediate safety mechanism for the autonomous vehicle, particularly one using a tether or power line. By integrating the safety wire described in XIANG with the current-conducting, magnet-held, dead-man switch concept of Dolata, one achieves a robust "fail-safe" system. The safety wire, when intact and magnetically coupled, ensures the continuous flow of current to the dead-man switch, allowing normal operation. Any unexpected detachment, breakage, or disruption of the safety wire, such as during a malfunction or emergency situation (e.g., the UAV flying out of range or an unauthorized attempt to detach the power source), immediately breaks the circuit to the dead-man switch. This action triggers an immediate power cut to the autonomous vehicle's main systems [045], forcing it into a safe, non-operational state or activating an emergency protocol. The use of a magnet for holding the wire together provides an easily detachable yet secure connection, allowing for quick setup and tear-down while ensuring the connection is secure during normal operations [040]. The combination directly addresses the critical need for enhanced safety and reliability in autonomous systems by providing a simple, passive hardware-based safety kill switch that is easy to implement and maintain as suggested by Dolata at [024], [040], [045].
Claims 20 is rejected under35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over XIANG-Dolata, as applied to independent claim 18 above, in view Schlueter et al. (U.S. Pub. NO. 9045881).
With regard to claim 20, Dolata discloses all of the limitations of claim 19. Additionally, Schlueter discloses wherein said safety wire is configured to be electronically folded to reduce space. (Discloses the safety apparatus includes a plurality of support components and a plurality of barrier components. At least some of the individual support components are configured to (i) extend outwardly from the vehicle frame when the safety apparatus is deployed and (ii) retract inwardly toward the vehicle frame when the safety apparatus is not deployed And at least some of the barrier components are coupled to one or more corresponding support components of the plurality of support components and configured to (i) form a safety barrier surrounding at least a portion of the vehicle when the safety apparatus is deployed and (ii) remain in a retracted position when the safety apparatus is not deployed.) (Schlueter, [Col 3. Row 45-65])
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety wire configured to stretch around said autonomous vehicle wherein said safety wire conducts a current and is connected to a dead-man switch on said autonomous vehicle, wherein said safety wire is held together via a magnet disclosed by XIANG-Dolata to include the wherein said safety wire is configured to be electronically folded to reduce space of Schlueter. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to solve the persistent engineering challenge of managing space and logistics on an autonomous vehicle platform. The safety wire, when used as a surrounding barrier and also a functional power tether/safety interlock as suggested by the XIANG-Dolata combination, needs to be deployed rapidly when required and stowed compactly when not in use (e.g., during transport or storage). By incorporating the electronically foldable or retractable mechanism taught by Schlueter, a designer optimizes the form factor of the safety system. This mechanism allows the vehicle to reduce its overall footprint, improving aerodynamic efficiency during flight (for a UAV application) or maneuverability in tight spaces, and makes the system significantly more practical and less cumbersome to manage. The motivation is rooted in achieving operational efficiency and maximizing utility of the vehicle platform without compromising the crucial safety functions provided by the surrounding, current-conducting safety wire assembly. The resulting system is a sophisticated, compact, and highly functional safety solution for an autonomous vehicle as suggested by Schlueter at [Col 3. Row 45-65].
Response to amendments
Applicant's arguments filed 09/11/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive, the examiner still maintains the same prior art Bradley-Williams for claims 1-20.
Applicant's amendments do overcome the 35 U.S.C. §102 rejections of claims 1-20
Applicant's amendments do not overcome the U.S.C. §103 rejections of claims 1-15, 17-20
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 3 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
(A) Applicant argues… In the Office Action dated June 11, 2025, claims 1-8, 10-16, and 18 were rejected for a lack of novelty in light of U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S.2020/0148348 Al "Bradley". Through this Response, claim 1 has been amended to recite: A system comprising: a flock of vehicles, wherein said flock comprises: a first leader vehicle; and a first follower vehicle, wherein said first leader vehicle and said first follower vehicle are coupled together, wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, and wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower, a fertilizer, an agricultural tractor, a snow removal machine, a leaf collection machine, or a construction machine. Bradley does not disclose, teach or suggest a first follower vehicle that is a lawnmower, a fertilizer, an agricultural tractor, a snow removal machine, a leaf collection machine, or a construction machine as recited in amended claim 1. Instead, Bradley discloses a tethered drone launched from a control vehicle, not a flock of vehicles. A careful reading of Bradley shows that it focuses on aerial drone operations, not ground-based vehicles such as lawnmowers, fertilizers, agricultural tractors, snow removal machines, leaf collection machines, or construction machines as recited in claim 1 that a configured to operate as a flock. Additionally, Bradley does not disclose, teach, or suggest a first leader vehicle configured to be operated by an onboard operator as recited in amended claim 1. Instead, Bradley describes that the tethered drone is controlled from a user interface utilizing a tether between a control vehicle and the tethered drone. This remote-control operation is fundamentally different from the onboard operator configuration recited in amended claim 1, in which a flock of vehicles is controlled and monitored by an operator located on one of the leader vehicles.
As to (A), Examiner respectfully disagrees, the examiner appreciates the applicant’s position but are considered moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
(B) Applicant argues… Regarding claim 18, Bradley does not disclose, teach or suggest "an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety wire configured to stretch around said autonomous vehicle." Bradley describes a tether that is used for controlling and retracting the drone rather than functioning as a safety wire configuration around an autonomous vehicle as described in the present application and recited in claim 18. Bradley's tether is formed from materials like graphene, steel, carbon fiber and is designed for power conduction and liquid delivery between vehicles. This tether configuration serves a fundamentally different purpose than the safety wire of claim 18. The safety wire recited in claim 18 is specifically positioned around the vehicle. This configuration provides unique advantages including detecting tiny obstacles around the vehicle. This fundamental difference is clearly shown by comparing the safety wire 510 of the present application with the tether 104 of Bradley (reproduced below for convenience). The test for determining if a reference anticipates a claim, for purposes of a rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102, is whether the reference discloses all the elements of the combination in the claim. Anticipation requires the presence in a single prior art reference disclosure of each and every element of the claims. Therefore, if the cited reference does not disclose each and every element of a claim, as has been shown here with respect to claims 1 and 18, then the cited reference fails to anticipate the claim and, thus, the claim is distinguishable over the cited reference. For at least the reasons discussed above, claim 1 and claim 18 are not anticipated by Bradley should be allowed. Claims 2-8 and 10-16 depend on claim 1 and should be allowed for at least the same reasons as claim 1.
In the Office Action dated June 11, 2025, claims 2, 9, 17, and 19-20 were rejected as being obvious in light of Bradley and U.S. Patent No. U.S. 11,466,998 B1, "Williams". As discussed above, Bradley fails to teach, disclose, or suggest, among other things "a flock of vehicles. wherein said first leader vehicle is configured to be operated by an onboard operator, and wherein said first follower vehicle is a lawnmower, a fertilizer, an agricultural tractor, a snow removal machine, a leaf collection machine, or a construction machine" as recited in claim 1. In fa